After a season of ongoing isolation, our hearts long to return and reconnect. With the help of lay preachers from our congregation, each week we will take steps to explore our faith during the season of lent. We begin our lenten journey connected in dust, moving through the wilderness, all while clinging to a promise. Together, we will go on to explore how repentance and reconciliation help us to draw near to one another and God. As we near Holy Week, we will be filled with great anticipation and look forward to Easter, a celebratory day of resurrection and reconnection!
As we begin our journey, lay preacher Monica Gilbert shares with us about how we are connected in the wilderness. Together we took a closer look at Luke 4:1-13:
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Questions to Ponder
Monica shared that we are connected with all of God’s creation. Wilderness can be a physical space, but it can also be within our body. Monica shares the challenge to consider how our body, especially the mental space, is something that is similar for all humans. Our thinking can be tempted to be taken over by negative emotion.
Are you aware of times when you have been tempted to negative thinking and emotions? What helps you in those moments?
We need help doing the work in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit helped Jesus and offers help to us, too. It can feel like getting a second wind!
Have you ever felt like you were getting a second wind?